Sulfates in Martian Layered Terrains: The OMEGA/Mars Express View,

Aline Gendrin (1) , Nicolas Mangold (2) , Jean-Pierre Bibring (1) , Yves Langevin (1) , Brigitte Gondet (1) , François Poulet (1) , Guillaume Bonello (1) , Cathy Quantin (3) , John Mustard (4) , Ray Arvidson (5) , Stéphane Le Mouélic (6)

1 IAS - Institut d'astrophysique spatiale
2 IDES - Interactions et dynamique des environnements de surface
3 LST - Laboratoire de Sciences de la Terre
4 Department of Geological Sciences [Providence]
5 Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences [St Louis]
6 LPG - Laboratoire de Planétologie et Géodynamique [UMR 6112]

The OMEGA/Mars Express hyperspectral imager identified hydrated sulfates on light-toned layered terrains on Mars. Outcrops in Valles Marineris, Margaritifer Sinus, and Terra Meridiani show evidence for kieserite, gypsum, and polyhydrated sulfates. This identification has its basis in vibrational absorptions between 1.3 and 2.5 micrometers. These minerals constitute direct records of the past aqueous activity on Mars.

Domaines: Autre

Aline Gendrin, Nicolas Mangold, Jean-Pierre Bibring, Yves Langevin, Brigitte Gondet, et al.. Sulfates in Martian Layered Terrains: The OMEGA/Mars Express View,. Science, 2005, 307, pp.1587-1591. ⟨10.1126/science.1109087⟩. ⟨hal-00112757⟩